Yeah, but this guy served way, way back in the 1970-71 session, and Laney was a long ways away from becoming Speaker (and in 1970, the concept of a "Republican" seat in Texas was as alien as one in Downtown Detroit).
a great point and I stand corrected and humbled by being so stupid.
70-71 puts him in Austin right in the middle of the Sharpstown Stock Scandal that took down Ben Barnes. Gus Mutscher would've been speaker. It also looks that he either "retired" or was defeated in 1972, which indicates that he was on Mutscher's side during the scandal. About half the legislature was replaced that year due to public backlash over the scandal.
The only "Republican" seat back then was probably Craddick's Midland district, and it was a newly Republican district at that.